SURVEY AND DOCUMENTATION OF SOME WILD ......Sudhanshu Kumar Department of Botany, P.P.K. College, Bundu, Ranchi 835204, Jharkhand, India Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Jharkhand

Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319–3824(Online)

An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm

2015 Vol.4 (2) April -June, pp.36-45/Kumar

Research Article

© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 36

SURVEY AND DOCUMENTATION OF SOME WILD TUBERS/

RHIZOMES AND THEIR VARIOUS USES IN JHARKHAND

*Sudhanshu Kumar

Department of Botany, P.P.K. College, Bundu, Ranchi 835204, Jharkhand, India

*Author for Correspondence

ABSTRACT

Jharkhand a land of forests and tribals with flora and fauna is in itself an interesting subject to be studied

extensively. Recent revival of interest in documenting medicinal plants used by tribal is a centre of focus for different government institutions, NGOs and Science and Technology Department of Jharkhand- state

Govt. Most of the ethnic people here are dependent on forest for their lively-hood. The Mundas, Oraons,

Santhals, Kharias, Birhors, Paharias and Asurs constitute the prominent ethnic groups of Jharkhand. The BPL (Below poverty line) people of those communities work hard and the source of their good health is

the leafy vegetables, corms and rhizomes from wild sources which supplement their mineral and vitamin

requirement and also as substitute of medicine in general health problems. The present survey of the wild

tubers/rhizomes of Jharkhand has been done with an objective to know particularly those wild edible tubers/rhizomes which area used as vegetable or spices and medicine by the folk in this region.

Keywords: Wild Tubers; Vegetables; Spices; Medicine; Ethnic People; Jharkhand

INTRODUCTION

The local tribe in Jharkhand inhibits far flung interiors of forest infested land and is out of the reach of medicinal facility. But Nature has provided them the substitutes in medical emergency. They use herbs

and edible tubers/rhizomes as vegetables and spices in health problems and also apply them as paste in

problems of different part of body.

Again the preliminary investigation has suggested that many edible tubers and roots are somewhat alike in morphology and grows besides each other however some of them are poisonous. For example tuber of

young Butea monosprma (Palsh) is edible but it resembles with that of Gloriosa superba which is deadly

poisonous and much causality have been reported due to consumption of the tuber of Gloriosa in place of Butea in confusion. So, the objective of this paper is also to educate target population about the

identification and proper use of the edible tubers and how to differentiate them with poisonous ones, by

organizing and installing stalls for display of these in ‘Kisan melas’ or other way out..

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both intensive and extensive ethno botanical survey have been carried out during the Year 2013-2015 in

remote tribal dominated villages and village haats (markets) of different areas of Jharkhand viz. Dumka tin bazar, Sikaripara and Masanjore in Dumka district. In Ranchi districts the markets include Norhi,

Rargaon and Salgadih in Tamar Block; Taimara, Nailagara and Bundu in Bundu Block. The survey

included Runtukel, Lili and Kote in Murhu block of Khunti district also. The information collected and recorded is related to those wild tubers/rhizomes being used as vegetables and spices. The information

was collected by interviews, observations and participation with the ethnic respondents.

Identification of these plants specimens were done with Haines (1921-25), Ghosh (1971), Singh et al.,

(2001), Sarma and Sarkar (2002), and also by matching the herbaria at NBRI (LWG), Lucknow.

Enumeration Abelmoschus crinitus Wallich [Malvaceae]

Local Name: Ban bhindi Voucher specimen: SK 2114

Uses: Fresh root is eaten raw by local tribes.

Asparagus racemosus Wild. [Liliaceae]




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Local Name: Goge Tarang

Voucher specimen: SK 2115

Uses: Boiled root is used as tonic while the raw roots are used in making Rice beer. It is useful to check dysentery, gastric complain and urine problems.

Bombax ceiba L. [Bombacaceae]

Local Name: Semar Voucher specimen: SK 2118

Uses: Root of young plant is eaten raw and also as tonic in case of weakness after boiling.

Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub [Fabaceae]

Local Name: Palas Voucher specimen: SK 2119

Uses: Root of young plant is sweet and often sucked by tribals in forest.

Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. [Zingiberaceae] Local Name: Ban haldi


Uses: Rhizome are used as paste over swelling and also as spices. Curcuma caesia Roxb. [Zingiberaceae]

Local Name: Neelkanth


Uses: Used by Mundas to cure snake bites. Also used to give flavour to rice beer. Its decoction is used in treatment of pneumonia and cough in child.

Dioscorea bulbifera L. [Dioscoreaceae]

Local Name: Piska sanga Voucher specimen: SK 2125

Uses: Yam is used as vegetable and also sold in the village market. It is also applied as paste in the

treatment of gout and joint pain.

Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill [Dioscoreaceae] Local Name: Suthni sanga


Uses: Boiled yam is edible after boiling. It is popularly used as offerings to the Sun god during 'Chhath festival' and sold costly prior to this festival in markets.

Dioscorea glabra Roxb. [Dioscoreaceae]

Local Name: Byang sanga Voucher specimen: SK 2129

Uses: The erect tuberous root is sold costly in the village markets as vegetable.

Dioscorea hispida Dennst. [Dioscoreaceae]

Local Name: Kulu sanga Voucher specimen: SK 2130

Uses: The fresh tubers are sweet but cause vomiting. They are eaten only after having been steeped in

water for 36 hours. Dioscorea pentaphylla L. [Dioscoreaceae]

Local Name: Hasear sanga

Voucher specimen: SK 2131 Uses: Boiled tubers are edible.

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. [Asclepiadaceae]

Local Name: Anant mool / Chhoti dudhi

Voucher specimen: SK 2132 Uses: Root is used to provide a different flavor to tea by housewives. Local area and also gives a flavor

to rice beer. Decoction of root is anti inflammatory, diuretic, prevents miscarriage and improves fertility.

Plesmonium margaritiferum (Roxb.) Schott. [Araceae]




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Local Name: Ban ole


Uses: The tubers are eaten but have to be boiled several times with lime juice or tamarind. Well grounded tuber are rubbed to reduce swelling.

Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Wild) DC (Fabaceae)

Local Name: Patal kumhra Voucher specimen: SK 2127

Uses: The Yam is eaten raw. The crust yam is rubbed on the body in fever and rheumatism.

Sauromatum venosum (Aiton) Kunth [Araceae]

Local Name: Lapra Voucher specimen: SK 2126

Uses: The Yam is used by the Mundas as flavour giving spice. Paste of tuber is used against

protuberance. Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f) Palla [Cyperaceae]

Local Name: Kesor / Khesari

Voucher specimen: SK 2135 Uses: The bulblets are considered delicate food among tribes.

Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich var vaxillata [Fabaceae]

Local Name: Ban mung

Voucher specimen: SK 2136 Uses: The tubers are eaten raw or boiled by tribals. Paste and decoction is applied in case of arthritis and

joint disorders. Decoction is effective in checking internal bleeding.

Zingiber purpureum Roscoe [Zingiberaceae] Local Name: Ban ada


Uses: The rhizome is used as flavor spice. Mundas make use of it against cough, intestinal disorder and

rheumatism. Paste of rhizome is applied in case of joint pain and decoction is used to check diarrhea, flatulence and constipation.

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex. Sm [Zingiberaceae]

Local Name: Harmu sing Voucher specimen: SK 2140

Uses: Rhizome is used as spice. The paste of root is used to cure wounds by Mundas. It is also used to

relieve stomachache. Softened rhizome is pressed into the hollow teeth as long as needed to check toothache. The grounded rhizome is taken with water to check stomachache.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Discussion The survey and documentation reveals that only eight tubers/rhizomes of the above nineteen listed are

found being sold in the village markets. While going through literatures it has been observed that the

various authors have reported varied properties of medicinal value of these tubers/rhizomes. Misra and Misra (2014) reported that boiled root of Abelmoschus crinitus is used as vegetable in Odisha. The root

powder is used by Valmiki Tribes of Muchingibutta Mandal of Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra

Pradesh to increase memory power (Padal & Devender, 2012). Meena and Rao (2010) have found that in Rajasthan Meena community use Asparagus racemosus to increase lactation, check diabetes, muscle pain,

muscular disorders, leucorrhoea and to increase fertility. Root bark of Bombax ceiba is used in

leucorrhoea and urinary problems in Rajsthan and Chattisgarh (Chaudhary and Khadabadi, 2012). Patil et

al., (2006) have reported that root pieces of Butea monosperma are eaten and the juice extracted from the root. This root is used as remedy against impotency in Maharashtra. Rhizome of Curcuma angustifolia is

boiled and used as vegetable in South Odisha (Misra and Misra, 2014). Root and rhizome of Curcuma

caesia is used in piles, leprosy, asthma and in rheumatic arthritis as paste (Das et al., 2013). Yam of




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Dioscorea bulbifera is boiled and used as vegetable in Odisha (Misra and Misra, 2014). Dioscorea

bulbifera is used by tribal ladies of Rajasthan as contra receptive (Choudhary et al., 2008).

Figure 1: Abelmoschus crinitus Wallich Figure 2: Roots of Abelmoschus crinitus

Wallich

Figure 3: Asparagus racemosus Wild. Figure 4: Root of Asparagus racemosus Wild.

Figure 5: Bombax ceiba L. Figure 6: Root of Bombax ceiba L.

Figure 7: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub Figure 8: Root of Butea monosperma (Lam.)

Taub

Plate 1




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Figure 9: Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. Figure 10: Root of Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.

Figure 11: Curcuma caesia Roxb. Figure 12: Root of Curcuma caesia Roxb.

Figure 13: Dioscorea bulbifera L. Figure 14: Root of Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Figure 15: Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill Figure 16: Root of Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.)

Burkill

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Figure 17: Dioscorea glabra Roxb. Figure 18: Root of Dioscorea glabra Roxb.

Figure 19: Dioscorea hispida Dennst. Figure 20: Root of Dioscorea hispida Dennst.

Figure 21: Dioscorea pentaphylla L. Figure 22: Root of Dioscorea pentaphylla L.

Figure 23: Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. Figure 24: Root of Hemidesmus indicus (L.)

R.Br.

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Figure 25: Plesmonium margaritiferum (Roxb.)

Schott.

Figure 26: Corm of Plesmonium

margaritiferum (Roxb.) Schott.

Figure 27: Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Wild)

DC

Figure 28: Tuberous root of Pueraria tuberosa

(Roxb. ex Wild) DC

Figure 29: Sauromatum venosum (Aiton)

Kunth

Figure 30: Corm of Sauromatum venosum

(Aiton) Kunth

Figure 31: Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f) Palla

Figure 32: Root of Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f)

Palla

Plate 4




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Dioscorea esculenta is boiled and taken to increase body weight by tribals of Assam (Dutta, 2015).

Dioscorea glabra is used as fresh snacks in south Odisha (Misra and Misra, 2014). In Meghalaya the yam

of Dioscorea glabra is boiled and used as vegetable (Sheikh et al., 2013). Root of Dioscorea hispida called ‘Ubi gadong’ by Temuan tribe of Malaysia and is used to decrease the glucose level in blood

(Hanum and Hamzah, 1999). Root of Dioscorea pentaphylla is used as medicine related to digestive tract

and respiration in Malaysia (Nashriyah et al., 2011). Pragada et al., (2012) reported that Hemidesmus indicus root is used by tribes of North Andhra Pradesh to check dysentery in form of decoction. Kumar

and Goel (2008) also reported previously about the use root of Hemidesmus indicus as flavoring agent of

tea in Jharkhand.

Figure 33: Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich var

vaxillata

Figure 34: Tuberous root of Vigna vexillata

(L.) A. Rich var vaxillata

Figure 35: Zingiber purpureum Roscoe

Figure 36: Rhizome of Zingiber purpureum

Roscoe

Figure 37: Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex.

Sm

Figure 38: Rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (L.)

Roscoe ex. Sm

Plate 5




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Sen and Behera (2008) observed that Root paste of Plesmonium margaritiferum mixed with Piper nigrum

is taken twice daily to cure dysentery by the tribals of Bargarh district in Orrissa. Kapale (2012) reported

from Amarkantak area of Madhya Pradesh that Baiga tribes there eat Pueraria tuberosa tuber to cure abdominal disorder. Chaudhary et al., (2008) observed during their study in Rajasthan that tuber of

Sauromatum venosum have anti-tumor property. Banik et al., (2014) reported that Schoenoplectus grossus

is edible and used for medicinal purposes in Chhattisgarh. Adhikari et al., have reported from Dehradun that root and whole plant is used in the treatment of Rheumatism, ulcer, cholera, weakness. Sirirugsa

(1999) found that in Thailand the rhizome of Zinziber purpurium is used to treat fevers and intestinal

disorder. Various lotions and decoctions applied to swellings, rheumatism, bruise, numb feet, and painful

parts while the rhizome of Zinziber zerumbet is used to relieve stomachache, macerated in alcohol is regarded as tonic, stimulant and depurative. It is also used as the spice ging er. Saikia et al., (2010) also

confirmed that rhizome of Zinziber purpurium called as ‘Bara-ud’ by Bodo tribes in Assam is used for

cure of stomachache and indigestion. The present investigation indicated how poor people of this area have developed an alternative source of vegetables and spices to be used particularly in the times of

scarcity of vegetables. In this way the ethnic community would be having more choices of vegetables and

spices with medicinal properties before them.

Conclusion Thus the information documented above about the ethno medicinal properties that nature has bestowed on

these wild roots/rhizome are of much use for these local people and need to be disseminated among more

people around.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are grateful to local respondent tribes and people for their valuable help in collection of plant species. We are thankful to UGC (Eastern Zone) for providing financial assistance in form of Minor

Research Project under 12th Plan.

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Documents

SURVEY AND DOCUMENTATION OF SOME WILD ......*Sudhanshu Kumar Department of Botany, P.P.K. College, Bundu, Ranchi 835204, Jharkhand, India *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Jharkhand

SURVEY AND DOCUMENTATION OF SOME WILD ......Sudhanshu Kumar Department of Botany, P.P.K. College, Bundu, Ranchi 835204, Jharkhand, India Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Jharkhand